Prince Harry has recorded a special message to celebrate the 75th anniversary of children's favorite Thomas the Tank Engine.

The Duke of Sussex introduces a new program called "Thomas and Friends: The Royal Engine," which has a storyline that includes Harry's father and grandmother, Prince Charles and Queen Elizabeth II, as animated characters.

Set when the Prince of Wales was a boy, the story sees the friendly engine taking Sir Topham Hatt, the controller of the railway, to Buckingham Palace to receive an honor.

In his introduction — which was recorded in January before his move overseas — Prince Harry is seen sitting in an armchair, reading from a book about the train's adventures.

In a statement he said he has "fond memories of growing up with Thomas and Friends and being transported to new places through his adventures."

Thomas "has been a comforting, familiar face to so many families over the last 75 years — entertaining, educating and inspiring children on important issues through exciting stories and characters," he added.

In January, Prince Harry and his wife Meghan, the Duchess of Sussex, announced they planned to quit as senior royals, seek financial independence and move to North America.

The split became official at the end of March, and the couple are currently in California, where Meghan was raised.

Proof of Prince Harry's attachment to the engine can also be seen in photos of his first day attending nursery in September 1987, where he is seen carrying a Thomas the Tank Engine bag.

The Rev. Wilbert Awdry released the first book in "The Railway Series" 75 years ago. It was originally created as a bedtime story for his son, Christopher, during a bout of the measles.

The plucky blue tank engine doesn't appear in the debut story. He got his own illustrated book in 1946 called "Thomas the Tank Engine" and swiftly took over from Edward, Gordon and Henry as everyone's favorite.

The train tales were turned into a stop-motion animation series in the '80s, moving into CGI in 2009. "Thomas and Friends," owned by Mattel, is now on air in over 160 countries worldwide.

British actress Rosamund Pike is also onboard "Thomas and Friends: The Royal Engine," voicing a new character, an important train called the Duchess of Loughborough.

The show will be aired by Netflix in the U.S. on May 1 and on Channel 5's "Milkshake" show in the U.K. the following day. It will also be broadcast in Canada and Australia later in the month.

Peter Phillips, the eldest grandson of Queen Elizabeth II, and his wife Autumn are divorcing after 12 years of marriage.

The couple said in a statement Tuesday that the separation was sad but amicable. They plan to share custody of daughters Savannah, 9 and Isla, 7.

The 42-year-old Phillips is the son of Princess Anne and will be the first of the queen's eight grandchildren to divorce. Three of the monarch's four children had marriages that ended in divorce, including Anne, who split from first husband Mark Phillips in 1992 and married naval officer Timothy Laurence, her second and current spouse.

Peter Phillips married Canadian management consultant Autumn Kelly at Windsor Castle in 2008.

Announcement of their separation comes after a tumultuous few months for Britain's royal family. Last month the queen's grandson Prince Harry and his wife Meghan quit royal duties, saying they wanted to seek financial independence and spend more time in North America.

 The queen's second son, Prince Andrew, also stepped down  from royal duties in November amid controversy over his friendship with the late convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.

Queen Elizabeth II agreed Monday to grant Prince Harry and and his wife Meghan their wish for a more independent life, allowing them to move part-time to Canada while remaining firmly in the House of Windsor.

The British monarch said in a statement that the summit of senior royals on Monday was "constructive," and that it had been "agreed that there will be a period of transition'' in which the Duke and Duchess of Sussex will spend time in Canada and the UK."

The summit at the queen's Sandringham estate in eastern England marked the first face-to-face talks with Harry since he and Meghan unveiled the controversial plan to step back from their royal roles.

"My family and I are entirely supportive of Harry and Meghan's desire to create a new life as a young family,'' the queen said in a statement. "Although we would have preferred them to remain full-time working members of the Royal Family, we respect and understand their wish to live a more independent life as a family while remaining a valued part of my family.''

The meeting came after days of intense news coverage, in which supporters of the royal family's feuding factions used the British media to paint conflicting pictures of who was to blame for the rift.

Buckingham Palace said "a range of possibilities" would be discussed, but the queen was determined to resolve the situation within "days, not weeks." Buckingham Palace stressed, however, that "any decision will take time to be implemented."

One of the more fraught questions that needs to be worked out is precisely what it means for a royal to be financially independent and what activities can be undertaken to make money. Other royals who have ventured into the world of commerce have found it complicated.

Prince Andrew, for example, has faced heated questions about his relationship with the late convicted sex offender and financier Jeffrey Epstein. Andrew, the queen's second son, has relinquished royal duties and patronages after being accused by a woman who says she was an Epstein trafficking victim who slept with the prince.

The Duke and Duchess of Sussex also face questions on paying for taxpayer-funded security. Home Secretary Priti Patel refused to comment, but said safety was a priority.

There were signs earlier in the day that the House of Windsor had moved to unite. Princes William and Harry issued a joint statement criticizing a newspaper article on the severe strain in their relationship, calling the story offensive and potentially harmful as they embark on talks regarding the future of the British monarchy.

Though the statement didn't name the newspaper, the Times of London had a front page story about the crisis in which a source alleged that Harry and Meghan had been pushed away by the "bullying attitude from" William. The joint statement insisted that the story was "false.''

 "For brothers who care so deeply about the issues surrounding mental health, the use of inflammatory language in this way is offensive and potentially harmful," the statement said.

Prince Philip left hospital Tuesday after being treated for what Buckingham Palace called a "pre-existing condition."

The 98-year-old is expected to join the rest of Britain's royal family for Christmas at Sandringham House in eastern England. He was set to fly there by helicopter.

Live footage showed the prince leaving the hospital on foot and entering a vehicle unaided.

Philip had been in the private hospital since Friday. His admittance was said to have been a "precautionary measure."

Buckingham Palace would not go into details about his ailment or the nature of his treatment.

Philip's decision to retire from public duties in 2017 was not health-related, the palace said at the time.

On Monday, Prince Charles said his father was "all right."

"When you get to that age, things don't work so well," he said.

Prince Harry's office has confirmed that he and his family will be spending "private time" in Canada over the Christmas holidays.

Harry, his wife Meghan and their 7-month-old son Archie will miss Queen Elizabeth II's traditional Christmas gathering at her Sandringham estate.

Palace officials Friday night confirmed Harry's family is in Canada but did not provide details.

Meghan lived in Canada for many years before she married Harry while she was filming the TV series "Suits."

Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau welcomed the family with a tweet.

"Prince Harry, Meghan, and Archie, we're all wishing you a quiet and blessed stay in Canada," he said. "You're among friends, and always welcome here."

The couple is taking a break from royal duties. Harry has said that he and his brother Prince William are going in different directions at the moment.

He has also complained about intrusive press coverage of his young family.